Alarm clock case made of two sections of which one is the means for stopping the alarm bell

ABSTRACT

An alarm clock comprising a casing composed of front and rear casing sections. The two casing sections are mounted for manual movement toward and away from each other while they are maintained in a substantially parallel relationship. An electric alarm mechanism is completely enclosed in the casing and develops an audible alarm signal when energized in use. The alarm mechanism is connected in a normally open electric circuit that is operative when closed to energize the alarm mechanism. Means are provided that are responsive to the movement of the casing sections towards each other for opening the circuit thereby deenergizing the alarm mechanism.

United States Patent 11 1 Sapper I ALARM CLOCK CASE MADE OF TWO SECTIONS OF WHICH ONE IS THE MEANS FOR STOPPING THE ALARM BELL [75] Inventor: Richard F. Sapper, Stuttgart,

Germany [73] Assignee: Italora S.p.A., Milano, Italy [22] Filed: Apr. 4, 1972 21 1 Appl. No.: 240,949

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1451 Sept. 4, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin AttorneyRobert E. Burns et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT An alarm clock comprising a casing composed of front and rear casing sections. The two casing sections are mounted for manual movement toward and away from each other while they are maintained in a substantially parallel relationship. An electric alarm mechanism is completely enclosed in the casing and develops an audible alarm signal when energized in use. The alarm mechanism is connected in a normally open electric circuit that is operative when closed to energize the alarm mechanism. Means are provided that are responsive to the movement of the casing sections towards each other for opening the circuit thereby deenergizing the alarm mechanism.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ALARM CLOCK CASE MADE OF TWO SECTIONS OF WHICH ONE IS THE MEANS FOR STOPPING TI-IE ALARM BELL This invention relates to a case for an alarm clock, in particular for an electric travel alarm clock case.

Various types of cases for alarm clocks are known, all of which, however, have a number of disadvantages from the point of view of practical utilization. This is due to the fact that the resetting and bell shut-off controls are not easily accessible to the user, especially when he or she is called upon to operate them immediately after being awakened.

Their inaccessibility is due both to the position in which they are located and to the way in which they have to be used. It is pointed out, furthermore, that the problem of having a crystal or glass over the hands and face without a covering, yet protected from rubbing against other articles placed, along with the alarm clock, inside suitcases and the like, has not yet been solved.

It is proposed, with this invention, to overcome the aforementioned difficulties through the conformation of the case, by suitably positioning the reset and shutoff controls, as well as through the improvement of the functional qualities of the said controls.

With this object, the subject of the invention is a case for an alarm clock, in particular an electric travel alarm clock, comprising two casing section hinged together, one of which, in particular the rear casing section, constitutes the means for operating the bell shut-off, and means for resetting the bell alarm.

The characteristics of the invention will clearly emerge from the ensuing description which is given on general lines by way of an example without limiting the present invention thereto, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an alarm clock provided with a case according to the invention FIG. 2 is a side view with a partial cutaway, of the alarm clock FIGS. 3 & 4 are side views of the alarm clock in the position in which it would normally work and in which the bell would be shut-off.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, it can be seen that the case or casing in question is comprised of two casing sections, that is to say, a front casing section 4 and a rear casing section 5, and means mounting them at the lower part, which is interhinged, through a pin 6.

The front casing section 4 is provided with a circular aperture 20 through which the face 14 can be seen with the hour hands 13, the second hand 13a and the alarm setting hand 13b. The rear casing section 5 constitutes the means for operating the shut-off of the bell 21.

For this purpose, the said casing section 5 has a protrusion protuberance or 22 on its inner edge or rim. The said protrusion 22 is disposed at a point corresponding to an extremity 24 of an operating lever 23 pivoted on the container at housing 1 of the mechanism of the alarm clock. Since this mechanism is of a conventional type, it is not illustrated. The clock is operated by a battery which also is not shown which is in a circuit with the alarm mechanism.

A knob 2 moves the hands 13, 13a and 13b.

Means for opening the circuit includes lever 23 having its lower extremity 3 shaped likea fork and has III placed between its prongs, the extremity 8 of the moving part of a two-position switch which constitutes the device for shutting-off the bell 21.

In one of its positions, in fact, the said switch opens the bell supply circuit and thus cuts off the ringing, while in the other, it resets the bell in such a way that it is able to again go off at the required time.

Thus, contemporaneously, it also constitutes the device for resetting the bell mechanism 21.

At a point corresponding to the extremity 3 of the lever 23, the rear casing section-5 is provided with a hole 25 inside which is fitted means for closing the circuit comprising a pin 7 which has a spring 26, the purpose of which is to keep the pin 7 in the proximity of the extremity 3 of the lever 23. The pin 7 moves the operating lever 23, thereby causing the bell 21 to reset.

Means biasing the casing sections comprises a flat or leaf spring 27 fastened to the lower part of the front casing section 4 at a point corresponding to where it is hinged on to the rear casing section 5. The said spring 27 engages with the rear casing section 5 in such a way as to move it away from the said front casing section 4. The purpose of this is to allow the two casing sections 4 & 5 to come together when the bell is off (FIG. 4) and also to enable them to be subsequently returned to their original position (FIG. 3).

The approach is made possible since the interior of the front casing section 4 has a peripheral radial recess 9 and the exterior of the rear casing section 5 has a corresponding peripheral radial recess 10.

The two casing sections 4 8r. 5 are only in contact with each other along a part of the said two recesses 9 & 10 and thus a peripheral slot 11 is provided in this way.

Two hooks 28, only one of which can be seen in FIG. 2, hold the casing sections 4 & 5 together with the vertical walls parallel with each other.

A further characteristic of the case forming the subject of the invention is that the glass covering the hands 13 and 13a and the face 14, consists of a transparent crystal 12, fixed in the front casing section 4 and having its outside wall 15 set back, in comparison to the outside wall 16 of the casing section 4. A protective fitting l7, normally in the form of a plug, is secured to the rim 12 with its front side 18 flush with the outside wall 16 of the front casing section 4.

Finally, it should be noted that the front casing section 4 has on its lower part, a slot 19 which is virtually parallel with its lower edge.

The bell 21 is located at a point corresponding to the said slot.

The above described case is used in the following way:

It is assumed that the hand 13b has been duly set for the hour when the bell is required to ring. When the pin 7 is depressed, the lever 23 is made to rotate and this prepares the supply circuit of the bell 21 for it to carry current. The switch, in fact, has the moving part 8 in the closed position for this circuit. The alarm bell rings at the predetermined time and, if it is wished to shut it off, the top parts of the two casing sections are pressed together (FIG. 4) to counter the action of the spring 27. In this way, the protrusion 22 comes into contact with the lever 23 which rotates and causes the moving part 8 of the switch to open the supply circuit of the bell 21,

thereby shutting it off.

The two casing sections 4 & 5 return to their original position (FIG. 3) and, thanks to the spring 27, the vertical walls are parallel with each other.

To reset the alarm so that the bell may go off at the predetermined time, the pin 7 needs to again be depressed.

What we claim is 1. An alarm clock comprising: a casing composed of front and rear casing sections; means mounting said casing sections for manual movement toward and away from each other while maintaining said casing sections in substantially parallel relationship means biasing said casing sections away from each other; an electric alarm mechanism completely enclosed in said casing and operative when energized to develop an audible alarm signal at a predetermined time; a normally open electric circuit connected to said alarm mechanism and operative when closed to provide electrical energy to said alarm mechanism; means for closing said circuit to effect energization of said alarm mechanism at said predetermined time; and means responsive to the movement of said casing sections toward each other for opening said circuit thereby deenergizing said alarm mechanism.

2. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means mounting said casing sections comprises means connecting together said front and rear casing sections at one portion for pivotal movement thereabout; and said means biasing said casing sections comprises a spring.

3. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein one of said casing sections has means therein defining a recess along the outer surface of the circumferential edge thereof facing the other casing section and wherein said other casing section has a projection along the inner surface of the circumferential edge thereof facing said one casing section and in alignment with said recess to permit the movement of said casing sections towards each other.

4. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means for opening said circuit comprises switching means for switching to one state wherein said circuit is closed and for switching to another state wherein said circuit is open, said switching means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said front casing section and pivotable into one extreme position corresponding to said one state and pivotable into another extreme position corresponding to said another state.

5. An alarm clock according to claim 4, wherein said switching means further comprises a protuberance disposed in said rear casing section coacting with said lever when said casing sections move towards each other to move said lever from said one position to said other position.

6. In an alarm clock according to claim 4, wherein said means for closing said circuit comprises a slidable pin mounted through said rear casing section and responsive to an axial force applied therto to coact with said lever to move same from said other position to said one position.

7. in an alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said front casing section has means therein defining a slot positioned adjacent to said alarm mechanism.

8. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said front casing section includes a crystal mounted behind the outermost surface of said front casing section.

9. An alarm clock according to claim 8, wherein said front casing further includes a protective member mounted on said crystal and flush with said outermost surface of said front casing section.

* I I t 

1. An alarm clock comprising: a casing composed of front and rear casing sections; means mounting said casing sections for manual movement toward and away from each other while maintaining said casing sections in substantially parallel relationship ; means biasing said casing sections away from each other; an electric alarm mechanism completely enclosed in said casing and operative when energized to develop an audible alarm signal at a predetermined time; a normally open electric circuit connected to said alarm mechanism and operative when closed to provide electrical energy to said alarm mechanism; means for closing said circuit to effect energization of said alarm mechanism at said predetermined time; and means responsive to the movement of said casing sections toward each other for opening said circuit thereby deenergizing said alarm mechanism.
 2. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means mounting said casing sections comprises means connecting together said front and rear casing sections at one portion for pivotal movement thereabout; and said means biasing said casing sections comprises a spring.
 3. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein one of said casing sections has means therein defining a recess along the outer surface of the circumferential edge thereof facing the other casing section and wherein said other casing section has a projection along the inner surface of the circumferential edge thereof facing said one casing section and in alignment with said recess to permit the movement of said casing sections towards each other.
 4. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means for opening said circuit comprises switching means for switching to one state wherein said circuit is closed and for switching to another state wherein said circuit is open, said switching means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said front casing section and pivotable into one extreme position corresponding to said one state and pivotable into another extreme position corresponding to said another state.
 5. An alarm clock according to claim 4, wherein said switching means further comprises a protuberance disposed in said rear casing section coacting with said lever when said casing sections move towards each other to move said lever from said one position to said other position.
 6. In an alarm clock according to claim 4, wherein said means for closing said circuit comprises a slidable pin mounted through said rear casing section and responsive to an axial force applied therto to coact with said lever to move same from said other position to said one position.
 7. In an alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said front casing section has means therein defining a slot positioned adjacent to said alarm mechanism.
 8. An alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said front casing section includes a crystal mounted behind the outermost surface of said front casing section.
 9. An alarm clock according to claim 8, wherein said front casing further includes a protective member mounted on said crystal and flush with said outermost surface of said front casing section. 